Trichotillomania Treatment in Utah — Breaking the Pull
Evidence-based, shame-free treatment for hair-pulling disorder in Utah — compassionate care that addresses the urges, triggers, and cycles driving trichotillomania at any age.
Why Choose NBCG for Trichotillomania Treatment
Trichotillomania — also called hair-pulling disorder or TTM — is a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) characterized by recurrent, compulsive urges to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other areas of the body. It affects an estimated 1–2% of the population, yet most people who struggle with it suffer in silence for years, too ashamed to seek help or unaware that effective treatment exists.
Trichotillomania is not a habit that can simply be broken through willpower. It is a recognized clinical condition with specific neurological and behavioral underpinnings — and it responds well to the right, specialized treatment approach. Our Utah-based team at NBCG offers evidence-based care including HRT, CBT, and psychiatric medication management, fully coordinated in one place.
Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behavior — not a choice.
Hair pulling in trichotillomania is driven by powerful urges, emotional triggers, and learned behavioral patterns — not weakness or lack of self-control. Understanding the mechanism behind it is the first step toward interrupting it.
Part of the BFRB family
Trichotillomania belongs to a group of body-focused repetitive behaviors that also includes skin picking (excoriation disorder) and nail biting. BFRBs share similar neurological profiles and respond to similar behavioral treatment approaches.
Automatic vs. focused pulling
Some people pull automatically — without full awareness, often while watching TV, reading, or drifting. Others pull in a focused, deliberate way in response to emotional distress. Many experience both. Understanding which type drives your pulling is central to treatment planning.
The urge-relief cycle
Pulling typically provides temporary relief from tension, anxiety, or emotional discomfort — which powerfully reinforces the behavior. Over time, the urge becomes increasingly difficult to resist without targeted behavioral intervention.
Shame that compounds the cycle
Most people with trichotillomania experience significant shame about their pulling — which itself becomes a source of the emotional distress that fuels further pulling. Breaking this secondary cycle of shame is an important part of effective treatment.
Two Styles of Hair Pulling
Automatic pulling
Pulling that happens outside of conscious awareness — often during sedentary activities or while the mind is occupied elsewhere. The person may not realize they have been pulling until they notice hair in their hand or a bald patch.
- Pulling while watching TV, reading, or driving
- Pulling during phone calls or while on a computer
- Pulling while falling asleep or waking
- Little to no emotional trigger immediately preceding the pull
Focused pulling
Intentional pulling done in response to a specific urge, emotional state, or sensory trigger — often preceded by tension, anxiety, boredom, or the tactile sensation of a particular hair. Pulling provides temporary relief.
- Pulling in response to stress, frustration, or anxiety
- Searching for a specific type of hair to pull
- Ritualistic behaviors surrounding the pull
- Awareness of the urge and deliberate act of pulling
Common Pull Sites
Common Signs of Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania Treatments We Offer
Psychological & Neuropsychological Testing
A thorough evaluation confirms your trichotillomania diagnosis, distinguishes it from OCD or other conditions, identifies co-occurring disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression, and builds the foundation for a targeted, personalized treatment plan.
Learn More →CBT & Acceptance-Based Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy with acceptance-based strategies is the evidence-based psychological treatment for trichotillomania. Your therapist will help you build awareness of pulling triggers and patterns, develop competing responses that interrupt the urge-pull cycle, and address the emotional drivers and shame cycles that sustain the behavior — producing lasting, sustainable change.
Learn More →Psychiatric Medication Management
While no medication is FDA-approved specifically for trichotillomania, SSRIs, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and other medications have shown benefit in reducing pulling urges — particularly when co-occurring anxiety, depression, or OCD is present. Our board-certified providers evaluate appropriateness carefully for each person.
Learn More →Integrated Care Planning
Trichotillomania rarely exists alone. At NBCG, your therapist and psychiatric provider communicate and coordinate as one clinical team — so whether you're also navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, or OCD, every piece of your care is aligned and working together.
Learn More →Ready when you are — for evaluation, therapy, or medication support.
The NBCG Difference
Trichotillomania requires specialized expertise — and an environment where you never have to feel ashamed for something your brain is compelling you to do. At NBCG, that is exactly what we provide.
Multiple locations across Northern Utah, serving children, adolescents, and adults
Clinicians trained in habit reversal training and comprehensive behavioral treatment for BFRBs — the specific approaches shown to work for trichotillomania
Treatment that addresses both automatic and focused pulling styles — because one-size-fits-all behavioral strategies miss the mark for many people with TTM
Integrated therapy and psychiatry under one roof — so medication and behavioral treatment are coordinated rather than managed by separate providers who don't communicate
Judgment-free, compassionate care — our providers understand that pulling is not a choice, and every person who walks through our doors is treated with that understanding from the first appointment
Skip the back-and-forth.
If you're ready to get help, you can schedule your first appointment directly with one of NBCG's expert providers.
Book an Appointment Now →Not quite ready? Fill out our contact form and we'll reach out.
For individuals whose trichotillomania is accompanied by severe, treatment-resistant anxiety or depression, NBCG also offers advanced outpatient options including ketamine therapy in Utah. Ask your provider whether advanced treatment options may be appropriate alongside your trichotillomania care.
We Accept Most Insurance
Our NBCG team goes above and beyond to verify your insurance benefits, investigate coverage, and complete prior authorizations — so you'll know your costs upfront and can begin treatment with confidence and affordability.
Request a Consultation
One of our team members will reach out to talk through your options and answer any questions you may have — for yourself or your child — with complete compassion and zero judgment.
To schedule an appointment, please call
(801) 823-3109Locations & Services
Logan, UT 84321
- ABA & Autism Services
- Speech Therapy
South Ogden, UT 84403
- ABA & Autism Services
- Thrive Learning Center
- Speech Therapy
South Ogden, UT 84403
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
Layton, UT 84041
- Mental Health Therapy
Bountiful, UT 84010
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- ABA & Autism Services
- Speech Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
West Jordan, UT 84084
- ABA & Autism Services
- Psychiatric Med Management
Healing begins with one brave conversation.
You have carried this quietly for long enough. Our team is here — without judgment, without shame — to help you find your way through.
Indications for Treatment
The providers at Neurobehavioral Center for Growth (NBCG) offer psychiatric evaluation and treatment in Utah for a range of mental health conditions, including Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder), Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and ADHD. Treatment is determined based on individual psychiatric evaluations and may include specialized behavioral therapy, medications, and coordinated care planning.
Important Safety Information
Psychiatric medications are only available by prescription and should be taken as directed by a healthcare provider. A provider at NBCG can help determine if medication is appropriate for your situation. Patients' responses to medications may vary, and ongoing monitoring is necessary to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Common side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, changes in appetite, or mood fluctuations. It is important to discuss all potential risks and benefits with your provider. Medications for mental health conditions should not be discontinued without consulting a healthcare provider.
If you or your child is engaging in trichophagia (swallowing pulled hair), please consult with a medical provider promptly, as this can cause gastrointestinal complications including trichobezoar (hairball formation) that may require medical intervention.
